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ROLE

Lead Designer

DESCRIPTION

Abo Khashem is a comedic role playing game, where after awaking in the middle of nowhere with amnesia, you try to piece together what happened to you. With your trusty lizard companion, the two of you must uncover a massive conspiracy involving a powerful monolith.

YEAR

2018

GENRE

RPG

PLATFORMS

PlayStation, Xbox, PC

BUSINESS MANAGER

The creation of the business manager feature was an addition that significantly enriched the gameplay experience, and became a favorite amongst the community. This component allowed players to engage with various properties within the city of Torrid, offering opportunities to post job listings, employ staff, managers, and security personnel. Employees were instrumental in generating revenue, complemented by bonuses that were overseen by dedicated managers. Maintaining a careful balance of managerial staff was pivotal, as an excess or deficit could diminish the accrued bonus. Neglecting security measures posed risks, enabling vandals and thieves to exploit vulnerabilities within the store premises. Moreover, the threat of hostile enemy factions attempting to seize control of the establishments heightened the strategic complexity, but a robust security system was capable of thwarting their incursions. This system provided a refreshing divergence from intense action sequences, empowering users to allocate their hard-earned resources effectively while nurturing the in-game economy through generated income.

COMBO BUILDER

The combo builder empowered players to define their combat style by personally selecting attacks from a diverse list, each with unique and detailed animations. The builder provided an enjoyable experience as players experimented with various combinations, discovering the sequence of attacks that suited their preferences. Attacks were categorized by weapon types - single-handed, two-handed, and ranged - each featuring unique movesets. Players earned access to additional attacks through gameplay and leveling up, fostering progression and enhancing engagement.

LEVEL DESIGN

I meticulously designed and curated each level, orchestrating the placement of coins, power-ups, traps, and adversaries to ensure an immersive and challenging gameplay environment. One of my standout achievements was implementing a dynamic 'streak' system, a groundbreaking feature that elevated player engagement by dynamically scaling the difficulty in response to player success. This innovative system rewarded proficient players with increased challenges and more enticing rewards, enhancing the game's excitement and fostering an addictive gameplay loop.

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The above video features one of my favorite designs - the climb to the final boss. The video showcases the imposing scale of the central tower, deliberately crafted to overwhelm players with its sheer enormity. The objective is to skillfully navigate and ascend through the tower, continually reaching higher altitudes while unlocking crucial checkpoints along the way. A single misstep or flawed jump could potentially erase substantial progress, underscoring the challenge and tension inherent in this climactic journey.

PHONE SYSTEM

The phone system represented a modern method, granting players the liberty to select side quests at their convenience. The option to message an NPC with "Do you need help with anything?" whenever players desired side quests offered significant flexibility and agency over their gaming experience. Every NPC responded differently, showcasing distinct texting styles that added a sense of realism. In addition to side quests, players could also engage with characters met along their journey in a lighthearted, comedic manner.

INTERIOR DESIGNER

The interior designer feature empowered players to personalize their house, providing a canvas to express themselves creatively. This functionality allowed for unconventional designs, enabling players to craft imaginative arrangements like wall-mounted desks or oversized picture frames. It offered players a respite from the action-oriented gameplay, allowing them to savor the results of their efforts and explore their creativity in a different realm.

© 2023 BY ZACK DAVIDSON

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